Packaging machine



July 28, 1942. R. w. VERGOBBI PACKAGING MACHINE Filed July 16, 1940 ATTQ NEY Patented July 28, 1942 STAT E. ii

EEFHQE PACKAGIN G MACHINE Application July 16, 194i), Serial No. 345,759

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a packaging machine and particularly to control mechanism for a packaging machine.

The invention has for an object to provide a packaging machine having a container supporting member adapted to receive and support a container and in which novel and improved control mechanism is provided adapted to terminate the operation of the machine in the event that a container is improperly positioned in said container supporting member or in the event that a container is absent therefrom.

With this general object in ViCW and such others as may hereinafter appear, the invention consists in the packaging machine and in the various structures, arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter described and particularly defined in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the drawing, which illustrates the preferred embodiment of the invention, Fig. 1 is a plan view of a sufiicient portion of a packaging machine embodying the present invention to enable it to be understood; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1, some of the parts being shown in cross-section; and Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic View of the control circuit to be referred to.

In general, the present inv ntion contemplates a packaging machine of the type provided with a plurality of container supporting pockets adapted to be intermittently moved to present the containers to the various instrumentalities of the machine, such, for example, as the mechanisms for performing the filling, closing and sealing operations. The containers, herein shown as cartons, are arranged to be fed from a supply thereof stored in a magazine in their collapsed or knocked-down condition, and in the operation of the machine, the cartons are withdrawn from the magazine and inserted into the pockets Where they assume an open or tubular position. The carton supporting pockets are then moved to present the cartons to the operating instrumentalities such as the flap closing and filling mechanisms of the packaging machine. Under normal operating conditions, the carton will assume a substantially rectangular position in the carton holding pockets. In some instances, and for any one of various reasons, a carton may be introduced into the pocket in a non-rectangular position, that is, if the carton is not fully opened up or fully inserted into the pocket, one corner of the carton will extend beyond the confines of the pocket. In other instances, the movable side of the pocket, which is adapted to be closed upon the carton to square it up in the pocket, may cause the front panel to buckle up and assume a concave position in the pocket, particularly when cartons of light board and relatively Weak structure are being handled.

In accordance with the present invention, provision is made for detecting such defectively inserted cartons and for controlling the operating mechanism of the machine to terminate the operation thereof when a defective carton is present in the pocket, so that the defective carton may be removed before it is presented to the subsequent operating stations of the machine. Provision is also made, in the preferred embodiment of the machine, for detecting the presence or absence of a carton in the supporting pocket and for terminating the operation of the machine in the event that a container is absent, such as would occur when the supply in the feeding magazine became depleted.

Referring now to the drawing, It represents a rotatable disk provided with a plurality of carton holding pockets 12, adapted to be intermittently moved to present the carton M to successive stations of the packaging machine, as will be understood. The cartons it are arranged to be stored in a magazine it and provision is made for withdrawing the foremost carton in the stack and inserting it in a pocket i2 through known mechanism including a Withdrawing and opening blade I8.

The control mechanism, indicated generally at 21!, includes a feeler or detecting finger 22 arranged to extend into the path of the carton in the pocket when the latter is intermittently moved into operative position with relation to the control mechanism. As herein shown, the control mechanism comprises a switch 25 arranged to be actuated by movement of the detecting finger 22, and includes a movable contact 24 and a stationary member 26 which are enclosed in a housing 28 attached to the machine frame. The detecting finger 22 is clamped to the lower end of a vertical stud 3i pivotally mounted in the housing 28, and. the movable contact 24 is fixed to the upper portion of the stud within the housing as clearly shown in Fig. 2. A spring 32 attached to the movable contact it normally urges the finger 22 in a direction such as to assume a position in the path of the oncoming container [4.

As herein illustrated, the switch forms part of a circuit 33 to a solenoid 3%, see Fig. 3, ar-

ranged to be actuated to open and close a second.

circuit 35 to a motor 36 for driving the machine. The movable member 24 of the switch is arranged to assume three difierent positions with respect to the stationary member 26 depending upon the disposition of the carton in the pocket. The stationary member 26 is formed in an arc, and in operation, the movable member is arranged to follow along the arc in engagement therewith. Under normal operating conditions, when the carton is properly squared up in the pocket, as shown in full lines in Fig. 1, the detecting finger 22 will be moved to the position shown in full lines which will cause the movable member of the switch to rest upon an insulated portion 49 thereof. Thus, under normal operating conditions, the solenoid circuit 33 will not be closed and the motor circuit 35 will remain closed to permit the machine to continue in operation.

In the event that the carton in the pocket is not fully inserted and the leading corner of the carton assumes a position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, the detecting finger will be moved to the position indicated at 42 causing the movable member of the switch to assume a circuit closing position, as indicated at 44, whereupon the solenoid 34 will be energized to raise the contact bar 46 from the contact points 48, 50 and open the motor circuit 35.

In the event that the carton has been crushed or jammed in the pocket to cause the front panel thereof to assume a concave position, the finger will be rocked inwardly by the spring 32 and the movable contact will assume a forward circuit closing position as indicated at 52. This position of the movable contact will likewise energize the solenoid 34 to interrupt the operation of the machine by opening the motor circuit 35. It will be apparent that when there is no carton present in the carton supporting pocket, the detecting finger will assume a similar position to terminate the operation of the machine.

Provision is made in the preferred embodiment of the invention for rendering the switch 25 inoperative during those periods in the intermittent operation of the machine when one carton is being moved out of and a succeeding carton is being moved into operative position with relation to the control mechanism. For this purpose, a second switch 54 is provided in the solenoid circuit 33 which is arranged to maintain the circuit open during the moving cycle of operation of the carton supporting pockets. As herein shown, the switch 54 includes a stationary contact 56 and a movable contact 58 slidably mounted in the housing 60 and which is normally held in circuit opening position by a coil spring 62.

The movable contact 58 is arranged to be depressed into engagement with its stationary contact 56 during the idle period of the pockets by a cam 64 mounted fast upon a cam shaft 66 which may form a part of the packaging machine. A bell-crank pivotally mounted on a stud 6B is provided with a cam roll on one arm 12 thereof which cooperates with the cam 64. The second arm 14 of the bell-crank is arranged to engage the top of the movable contact 58 so that in operation, the cam 64, being rotated in timed relation to the intermittent movement of th carton supporting pockets, will effect closing of the solenoid circuit when the pocket comes to rest. In this manner, the switch 25 is rendered inoperative to close the solenoid circuit 33 except when the carton supporting pockets have come to rest. It will be observed that unless the switch 54 were provided, the switch 25 would elfect closing of the solenoid circuit when the detecting finger assumed an inwardly rocked position during the container moving period of operation.

As herein shown, the solenoid circuit 33 is preferably grounded to the machine frame as indicated at 15 and the switch members 26, 56 are insulated from the machine frame by insulating pieces 18, 86 respectively, as illustrated in Fig. 2.

From the above description, it will be observed that the present control mechanism is adapted to interrupt the operation of the packaging machine, in the event of an absence of a carton from the pocket; or in the event that the carton has been defectively inserted; or in the event that the carton has become crushed in the pocket, while permitting the machine to continue in operation when the carton is properly positioned in the container supporting pocket.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been herein illustrated and described, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other forms within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a packaging machine of the character described, in combination, an intermittently movable container holding member adapted to receive and support a knocked-down carton in an open and substantially rectangular condition, operating means including an electrical motor for operating the packaging machine, and control means including a detecting finger arranged to feel for a carton held by said supporting member, a motor circuit, a second circuit including a solenoid arranged to be actuated to open said motor circuit and a switch operated by said detecting finger to close the circuit to said solenoid to effect termination of said operating means in the event that a carton is improperly positioned in said holding member or in the event that a carton is absent from the holding member, and a cam operated switch in said solenoid circuit adapted to be closed to complete the circuit to said solenoid only during the idle period of operation of said intermittently movable container supporting member.

2. In a packaging. machine of the character described, in combination, a pocket having one side movable and arranged to be closed .upon a tubular carton inserted in the pocket to square up the carton therein, operating means for operating the packaging machine, control mechanism including a detecting finger extended in the path of a carton held in said pocket and arranged to be engaged by a projecting corner of an improperly squared up carton extending beyond the confines of said pocket, and connections between said detecting finger and said operating means for terminating the operation of the machine upon detection of such projecting corner. I

3. In a packaging machine of the character described, in combination, a pocket having one side movable and arranged to be closed upon a tubular carton inserted in the pocket to square up the carton therein, operating means for operating the packaging machine, control mechanism including a detecting finger extended in the path of a carton held in said pocket and arranged to move inwardly within the confines of said pocket in the event the front panel of said carton has been bowed inwardly by the action of the movable side of said pocket, and connections between said detecting finger and said operating means for terminating the operation of the machine upon detection of such bowed front panel.

4. In a packaging machine of the character described, in combination, a pocket having one side movable and arranged to be closed upon a tubular carton inserted in the pocket to square up the carton therein, operating means for operating the packaging machine, control mechanism including a detecting finger extended in the path of a carton held in said pocket and arranged to be engaged by a projecting corner of an improperly squared up carton extending beyond the confines of said pocket, and connections between said detecting finger and said operating means for terminating the operation of the machine upon detection of such projecting corner, said detecting finger being also capable of effecting termination of the machine in the event a carton is absent from said pocket.

5. In a packaging machine of the character described, in combination, a pocket having one side movable and arranged to be closed upon a tubular carton inserted in the pocket to square up the carton therein, operating means for operating the packaging machine, control mechanism including a detecting finger extended into the path of a carton held in said pocket, said detecting finger being capable of movement into one of three different operating positions upon engagement of a carton held in said pocket ineluding a neutral position for a properly positioned carton, an outwardly rocked position for a carton extending beyond the confines of the pocket, and an inwardly rocked position for a carton bowed inwardly, and connections between said detecting finger and said operating means for terminating the operation of the machine upon movement of the detecting finger into such inwardly or outwardly rocked positions.

6. In a packaging machine of the character described, in combination, an intermittently movable container holding member adapted to receive and support a knocked-down carton in an open and substantially rectangular condition, operating means including an electrical motor for operating the packaging machine, and control means including a detecting finger arranged to feel for a carton held by said supporting member, a motor circuit, a second circuit including a solenoid arranged to be actuated to open said motor circuit and a switch operated by said detecting finger to close the circuit to said solenoid to efiect termination of said operating means in the event that a carton is improperly positioned in said holding member or in the event that a carton is absent from the holding member, and means for rendering said solenoid circuit inoperative except during the idle period of operation of said intermittently movable container supporting member.

ROBERT WILLIAM VERGOBBI. 

